West Bengal Election 2024 Highlights: 75.66% turnout till 5pm, says EC

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One CISF security personnel got injured during the alleged stone pelting incident by TMC supporters on the vehicle of BJP candidate from Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seat, Dilip Ghosh.

TMC candidate from Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency, Yusuf Pathan says, 'I am happy to see that youth & women are voting in large numbers. There is a positive environment. I have full faith that I will win with a huge margin. If I have to sacrifice for the people then I am ready, I have come here to work for the people. People have supported me a lot, they want a change here...'

TMC candidate from Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency, Yusuf Pathan says, 'I am happy to see that youth & women are voting in large numbers. There is a positive environment. I have full faith that I will win with a huge margin. If I have to sacrifice for the people then I am ready, I have come here to work for the people. People have supported me a lot, they want a change here...'

Congress MP and party candidate from Berhampore, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said "...Some goons, workers of TMC are trying to capture the roads and create problems for the people. I have requested the Election Commission to disperse them but they again come back and sit there. TMC wants to reduce the voter turnout because they know that the maximum number of voters are going to vote against TMC. They are scared so they want to disturb the voting process. We are not going to let them capture any booth, not I am going to let TMC win in Berhampore..."

Congress MP and party candidate from Berhampore, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said "...Some goons, workers of TMC are trying to capture the roads and create problems for the people. I have requested the Election Commission to disperse them but they again come back and sit there. TMC wants to reduce the voter turnout because they know that the maximum number of voters are going to vote against TMC. They are scared so they want to disturb the voting process. We are not going to let them capture any booth, not I am going to let TMC win in Berhampore..."

TMC Candidate Bardhaman Durgapur, Kirti Azad says, "Women are actively voting to ensure our victory... The thing is, BJP does not have workers and they mislead people for votes. But people have understood everything in these 10 years... Have you received any complaints of misconduct so far? BJP has defamed West Bengal to a great extent..."

TMC supporters block convoy of BJP candidate from Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency Dilip Ghosh in Bardhaman.

TMC candidate from Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency Kirti Azad cast his vote and said,”Overall, we are doing well. TMC will win here. BJP doesn’t have people to sit at booths. They’re saying this because they are losing. Didi is way ahead. I am a religious person. Sanatan Dharma is about Surya, Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vayu, Akash. They only talk – Machhli, Maans, Mangalsutra, Mughal. BJP people don’t know anything about it. They should give the report of last 10 years. Didi’s whole life is in front of people. It is like a walkover.”

"The hope of crossing 400 seats for BJP was shattered a long time ago. It is impossible for them to get over 400 seats. Let's see what happens," says Poonam Sinha wife of TMC candidate from Asansol Lok Sabha seat Shatrughan Sinha.

BJP MP and Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seat candidate Dilip Ghosh and Trinamool Congress candidate from Bardhaman-Durgapur Kirti Azad hug each other while going to a polling booth in Bardhaman.

Congress is accusing Trinamool Congress' 'goons' of blocking roads and threatening voters and INC agents in West Bengal's Salar.

BJP leader and Midnapore Lok Sabha candidate Agnimitra Paul cast her vote in Asansol today, expressing strong confidence in a decisive victory for the BJP in the constituency. "The way in which Prime Minister Modi has led over the last decade leaves no doubt about the outcome here. PM Modi is the key figure for all 42 seats in West Bengal, and in Asansol, I foresee a clean sweep by BJP's SS Ahluwalia. The opposition's presence doesn't alter our prospects here," stated Paul. Asansol is a key battleground with TMC's Shatrughan Sinha challenging BJP's SS Ahluwalia in the 2024 West Bengal Lok Sabha Elections.

In West Bengal's Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency, BJP candidate Amrita Roy shared insights into her journey to accepting the candidacy, highlighting her initial hesitations about entering politics. "Ten years back, the offer came and I declined because I thought this was a very difficult thing - a taboo - and people like me cannot handle such things. But then again BJP offered the seat to me and I declined yet again. Later, I accepted it. When I have accepted, I will do justice to my position," stated Roy.

Amrita Roy faces competition from notable candidates including AITC's Mahua Moitra and CPI(M)'s S. M. Saadi.

In the 2019 Indian general elections, Mahua Moitra emerged victorious from this seat, securing 614,872 votes or 45% of the vote share, defeating BJP's Kalyan Chaubey, CPI(M)'s Dr. Santanu Jha, and INC's Intaz Ali Shah.

TMC MP Satabdi Roy was seen arriving at a polling station in Birbhum to cast her vote as the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 progresses. Roy, who is seeking reelection, faces competition from key rivals including Debtanu Bhattacharya of the BJP and Milton Rashid of the INC.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Roy successfully secured the Birbhum seat for the TMC with a total of 654,077 votes, defeating BJP's Dudh Kumar Mondal by a margin of 88,924 votes.

As of 9 AM, West Bengal has recorded a voter turnout of 15.24%. The voting for 8 Lok Sabha seats in the fourth phase of General Elections 2024 commenced today at 7 AM. The voting will conclude at 5 PM.

BJP workers have reported an incident of vandalism at their stall outside a polling station in Birbhum, West Bengal. According to their claims, the damage was caused by TMC workers. In response, a TMC worker countered these allegations by stating, "We don't even know where the BJP camp office is. We are doing our work... They should check the CCTV, they will know who did it. Whoever did it should be arrested. They know that they will not get votes here, so they are doing this to create an atmosphere in their favour."

As per the latest updates, in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in West Bengal, the Asansol constituency has recorded a turnout of 13.03%, while Bardhaman Purba has a slightly higher participation rate of 15.88%. Bardhaman Durgapur has seen 14.08% of its eligible voters casting ballots. Baharampore leads with a robust turnout of 16.97%, followed closely by Bolpur at 16.46%. Birbhum has reported a turnout of 14.55%. Krishnanagar is not far behind, with a turnout of 15.67%, and Ranaghat has seen 15.31% of voters come out to vote.

BJP's candidate from Bardhaman-Durgapur, Dilip Ghosh, expressed concerns today over alleged voter intimidation by TMC. He recounted interactions with local villagers who fear for their ability to vote freely. "Women in the villages approached me, questioning if they could safely cast their votes without threats," Ghosh stated. He accused TMC goons of barring BJP polling agents from entering booths and expressed hope for a smoother voting process as the day progresses. Ghosh criticized TMC's candidate choice, highlighting their reliance on celebrity candidates over traditional political figures. The constituency also sees AITC's Kirti Azad and CPI(M)'s Sukriti Ghoshal vying for the seat.

- Source: ANI

BJP leader Agnimitra Paul cast her vote today at a polling station in Asansol, a major battleground in this phase of the Lok Sabha elections. This constituency is closely watched as it hosts a significant electoral contest between TMC's Shatrughan Sinha and BJP's SS Ahluwalia.

Congress MP and party candidate from Berhampore, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says "We are going to win and there is no doubt about that. I am extremely confident. Some isolated incidents have taken place at about 4-5 places. We are also going to file a complaint...I am competing with BJP and TMC, not with any individual. TMC should not have nominated Yusuf Pathan from here, it is useless..."

- Source: ANI

Key electoral battles in West Bengal Lok Sabha Elections 2024 include the BJP's Amrita Roy taking on TMC's Mahua Moitra for the Krishnanagar seat, while the TMC has positioned former cricketer Kirti Azad in Burdwan-Durgapur and renominated Satabdi Roy in Birbhum, setting the stage for some fiercely contested races.

The election saw active participation from star campaigners such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and TMC leaders Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. Their involvement through rallies and roadshows has significantly influenced the campaign dynamics, rallying substantial public support for their party candidates.

Notable figures such as Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Congress, BJP’s Dilip Ghosh, former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, and actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha are among those contesting in this phase, making the elections a high-profile affair. Their participation has significantly heightened the electoral stakes in their respective constituencies.

Polling stations opened early this morning at 7 AM across eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, marking the commencement of the fourth phase of the General Elections 2024. Voters are arriving to cast their ballots in key constituencies, including Baharampur, Krishnanagar, and Asansol.

A substantial number of voters, totaling 1,45,30,017, including 71,45,379 women and 282 third-gender electors, are registered to cast their votes in 15,507 polling stations across the state today. This diverse electorate will play a decisive role in shaping the political future of these eight constituencies.

Today's polling will encompass Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat (SC), Bardhaman Purba (SC), Bardhaman-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur (SC), and Birbhum as part of the fourth round of the Lok Sabha elections. These constituencies are crucial for determining the political balance in the region.

The campaigning efforts for the eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, slated for voting in the fourth phase of the General Elections 2024, officially ended on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

The West Bengal Lok Sabha Election 2024 has seen vigorous campaigning by major political figures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, and other prominent leaders have been actively rallying in support of their party's candidates, highlighting the high stakes involved in these constituencies.

The Election Commission has beefed up security ahead of West Bengal 4th Phase Lok Sabha Elections 2024, deploying 152 companies of central forces to ensure a smooth and safe voting process. Of the 15,507 polling stations, 3,647 have been identified as critical, necessitating extra vigilance and security measures to prevent any untoward incidents during the polls.

The 4 phase of election in West Bengal is particularly notable due to the presence of several high-profile candidates. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and BJP's former state chief Dilip Ghosh are among the 75 candidates contesting today. The field also includes celebrities like Yusuf Pathan and Shatrughan Sinha, adding a dash of glamour to the electoral battle.

West Bengal voters will today take part in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Voters from eight key constituencies including Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, and Asansol making their way to the polling stations today, May 13. A total of 1.45 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in this crucial phase.